Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 01

I’m so behind in my book reviews, it’s embarrassing. With such a stack of wonderful books to cover, it’s hard to know where to begin, but I’ll start here, with a series that’s the closest in nature to the Harry Potters that we’ve yet found.

Reception

Admittedly, my kids weren’t as taken in by Percy Jackson’s first book as they were by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Part of the reason, I think, stems from the fact that, while Harry was 11 and Percy was supposedly 12, they behave completely different. Harry was obviously a child in a child’s body; Percy on the other hand seemed like he’s 15 going on 20. I think Riordan failed to portray his protagonist realistically, and it was obviously off-putting to my kids (though they couldn’t tell you why). I’ll share more about the Jackson-Potter connection in later reviews, but I think this is important to note from the outset, because it’s tainted the whole series for us.

The book has its funny moments, which my kids certainly did enjoy. Some of the humor was spot-on middle-school stuff, and they were always intrigued by the clever chapter titles. Perhaps their favorite bits, though, were Grover’s eating habits: after all, as half-goat, a satyr isn’t just going to drink a can of soda, he’s got the eat the can too!

Darkness and Paganism: A Christian Father’s Thought Process

Apart from these momentary flashes of humor, though, I would have to characterize this first book as “Dark.” The early chapters especially included some seriously terrifying scenes that I had to skim and summarize as I read, lest my kids leave storytime with nightmares. They didn’t mind at all the fight with the Minotaur outside Camp Half-blood, but I knew they couldn’t handle meeting The Oracle or seeing in their minds’ eyes those three old ladies knitting on the bench! I know this, because my son (12) had nightmares after I read Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet to them (the dying pilot, the dead pilot, etc.). Some frightening scenes in books are too fantastic to be real and are therefore not fodder for nightmares, so I don’t mind reading them. But watching someone die or watching a dead body awaken and speak? Yeah. Even I don’t like picturing that!

Now as a Christian book reviewer, I have to reference the subject matter of these books: the gods of Greek mythology. “Why would you allow your children to dabble in paganism?!” I get the sentiment, and people are allowed their opinions. I do think it’s important to note, however, that there’s a vast difference between (a) a parent letting kids read whatever they want and (b) a parent leading them by the hand as they explore the worlds of literature together. I read these books aloud to my kids, and I am in full control of guiding their perceptions of it (for the time being). We pause often to discuss the things we read, be it “the gods” in this book, “wizards” in Harry Potter, disobedience in Roald Dahl, or whatever.

[Note: We eventually gave up on the Percy Jackson series and haven’t missed it; we reached our tipping point with its overt paganism and lack of depth.]

This is the power of reading to children that I advocate whenever I can: there’s a middle ground between sheltering your kids from the world and letting them prance willy-nilly through the minefields. Take their sweet little hands in yours and explore the world together, and in the process, give them the gift that will save you all from a lifetime of misery down the road: discernment.

Yes, this book is about gods and the half-blood products of their illicit relationships with humans. It’s Greek mythology, and it’s mostly new to me (though virtually all the names are familiar). The only god that really bothered me, of course, was Hades, and the scenes that concerned me most were those set in the Underworld. Again, these moments allowed for excellent conversations about Truth and identifying the stories people make up to try to explain the spiritual realities they otherwise suppress, but still, they rubbed me the wrong way.

Opportunities for Discussion

One of the most shocking statements from the book came in Percy’s description of Elysium, which I’ll quote here at length:

The line coming from the right side of the judgment pavilion was much better. This one led down toward a small valley surrounded by walls—a gated community, which seemed to be the only happy part of the Underworld. Beyond the security gate were neighborhoods of beautiful houses from every time period of history, Roman villas and medieval castles and Victorian mansions. Silver and gold flowers bloomed on the lawns. The grass rippled in rainbow colors. I could hear laughter and smell barbecue cooking. Elysium. In the middle of that valley was a glittering blue lake, with three small islands like a vacation resort in the Bahamas. The Isles of the Blest, for people who had chosen to be reborn three times, and three times achieved Elysium. Immediately I knew that’s where I wanted to go when I died. (301-302)

Wow. What an opportunity to discuss the Heaven of the Bible! Sure, the elements of Elysium that Riordan describes in this passages mirror some aspects of Heaven (for example, the “gated community” might refer to the walls in the New Jerusalem; the “blue lake” might refer to the sea of glass; and the “villas…castles…mansion” might refer to the place Jesus is preparing for us), but it’s not so much the place as the process of getting there that matters. The damned and the blest in this book are separated according to their works and efforts and bribes, while the blest are those who’ve “achieved Elysium” three times.

Praise God, the biblical Truth is that works are not what get a person to Heaven but are instead the natural fruit of the one who’s already headed there, because he’s already put his trust in the merciful Savior. Titus 3:4-8 says:

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

One other shocking statement in the book that sparked some discussion for us came from Percy’s mom at the end, after he rescued her from…oblivion? She tells her son:

If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself. I can’t let a god take care of me…or my son. I have to…find the courage on my own. Your quest has reminded me of that. (352)

Such a blatant declaration of self-confidence is the overarching message of this book, I think, just as it’s long been the religion of our times. This “declaration of independence” (from God no less) is the American way, and look where it’s gotten us: hatred, riots, racism, depression, opioid dependence, overdosing, suicide, violence, abortion and other murders, schisms, homelessness, and churches turning a blind eye to it all. Yup. Self-confidence and independence are the keys to success and happiness, you betcha.

It’s time to wake up and realize that there’s a better way, and that better way has been inches from us all this time. Pick up your Bible (or Google it). Read the life of Jesus. Recognize the salvation He’s given you, because you can’t do it on your own, and realize that He’s calling us all to join his family, a unit that takes care of and loves each other. Why would anyone want to live this life on their own? It boggles my mind.

Conclusion

Ok, this book review has taken quite a turn! I’ll stop preaching and get back to the stack of reviews that are calling my name. Thanks for reading.

©2023, 2025 E.T.